Electrode for shoe-treating apparatus



March 10, 1942- G. "r. HART, JR, ETAL ,2

I ELECTRODE FOR SHOE-TREATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24-, 1939 Y 2,275,430PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS ELECTRODE FOR SHOE-TREATING George T. Hart, Jr.,

and Erastus E. Wlnkley,

Lynn, Maaa, ossignors to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Borough oiFlemington, N. 1., a corporation oi New Jersey Application January 24,19, Serial No. 252,604

19 Claims.

This invention relates to electrodes for an apparatus using highfrequency current to produce an electrostatic field. The invention hasbeen illustratively described herein as applied to the treatment ofshoes to dry them, but its appli- 5 cation to other articles and forother treatment than drying will become apparent.

It is well recognized that a moist article placed in a high frequencyelectrostatic field will be heated and, hence, dried. It should beunderstood, furthermore, that the drying action of such a field startsat the inner portions 01' the material just as soon as it starts on theoutside surface thereof. As a consequence, leather dried in this fashionis not casehardened" and is more [5 supple and in better condition thanwhen the drying is carried out in the usual ways. For the uniform dryingof shoe soles in such a field, however, it is not sufiicient to placethe'sole between a pair of plates serving as electrodes without regardto the position'of the sole and the relation of the electrodes thereto,as it is found that, because of differences of potential and couplingand a distortion of the field produced by the introduction of such aforeign article, the

drying then takes place quicker in some parts of the sole than inothers.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide animproved arrangement of I electrodes for association with articles ofirregular contour whereby the action of the electrical field will besubstantially uniform therein.

The arrangement of electrodes which has been illustrated herein is shownas applied to the means for supporting the shoes in inverted position.Uniformity of treatment of these soles is effected, in accordance withone feature of the invention, by providing electrodes, which commonlywill be connected to one side of the source and will be associated withshoe supports such as the paddles which are sometimes employed forholding shoes ininvertedposition, and also providing another electrodeoccupying an intermediate position and spaced from the first electrodessuiilciently to permit the interpositioning of a shoe. This electrodewill be connected to the other side of the source.

.Another feature of the invention resides in an adjustable electrode,here shown as flexible, so

that it may readily be associated with a curved portion of the shoe suchas the shoe bottom and brought into the desired relation thereto. In theillustrated construction a fiexible chain has been employed which isheld in uniformly spaced relation to the sole or a shoe by means ofspacing members of dielectric material.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the employment of amovable carrying arm for one electrode. This arm may be lifted to carryits electrode away from the shoe, thereby to facilitate the removal ofone shoe and its replacement by another. As illustrated, means isprovided for positioning the arm in a predetermined relation to the shoesupporting memof the shoe, and of supporting that electrode in apredetermined space relation to said shoe bottom.

These and other featuresio'f the invention will now be described in thefollowing specification, taken in connection with. the accompanyingdrawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a shoe supporting devicewith which are associated the novel electrodes constituting on specificembodiment of our invention;

. Fig. 2 is' a detail section, through an insulat-- ing block forone-electrode, on the line 11-11 of Fi 1; "1

Fig; 3 is a vertical section, through the shoe .supports and 'anarmwhich supports one of the electrodes, taken on the line IIIIII of Fig.1; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a latch associated with theelectrode carrying arm.

The illustrated arrangement is designed to 3 support a pair of shoes Sin inverted position treatment of soles attached to shoes and includes35 between spaced paddles III, II, l2, which are attached by screws Itto a bracket I6 mounted upon a support It. The spacing between two outerpaddles III, I! and a middle paddle H may be adjusted by loosening wingnuts 20 upon outer supporting screws 22, which pass through slots p 24in the bracket It. This arrangement accommodates the cones of the lastsfor shoes of radically different sizes, permitting the height of thesoles above the paddles to be made substantially uniform. i

One set of electrodes II is associated with these paddles and mayconveniently be provided by attaching a metal sheet to the under side ofeach of the paddles, which latter conveniently are constructed of adielectric material, such as the phenol condensation product known asBakelite. The electrode sheets it on the group of paddles areinterconnected by means of a metal strip 32, to which there is joinedaifiexible lead 84 for connection to one side of a source of power, suchas a high frequency oscillator. The other electrodes II, which areadapted to be associated with the soles s of the shoes, are supported attheirinnerendsuponpostsflbymeansofa swivel l4 and to these posts areattached leads 4., whereby these electrodes may be connected to theother side of a suitable source of power. It will be noted that theposts 42 are adjustable in height and are positioned near the toe endsof the shoes, the arrangement being such that the chain electrodes 40extend axially of the shoes and substantially along the middle of thesoles between the coacting electrodes 30 (Fig. 3). The outer ends of thechain electrodes 40 are provided with swivels 48 to connect them topivoted depending fingers ll mounted to turn on studs 52 extendinglaterally from an arm 54, which is provided with a handle 5! and ismounted for upward tilting movement about a pin 58 extending between twolugs I on the bracket IS. The arm 54, substantially T-shaped incrosssection for the sake of strength and rigidity, may also beconstructed of Bakelite and has a shoulder 6!, which engages the upperend of an ad- I justable stop 64 in the bracket 18 when in its lower oroperative position. when in its upper position, to permit thepositioning of shoes upon the supports, the arm 54 will be held there bymeans of a friction latch 66 mounted in an extension 68 of the bracket16. This latch is adapted to engage a socket formed in a lug I2extending upwardly from the arm. A light tencreases the efiiciency ofthe apparatus. This shielding effect is minimized, however, if the fieldpasses at right angles to the metal plates, which means, in the case oflasted shoes, that it will pass substantially heightwise of the shoe.with this arrangement, also, the uniformity of treatment isgreatlyincreased and the relation of the electrodes to the shoe soles is notmaterially different in shoes of the smallest and largest sizes, thefield passing substantially heighwise of the shoes and substantiallynormal to the soles.

In the use of the apparatus, the paddles will be adjusted, if necessary,in accordance with the sizes of the shoes by loosening the wing nuts 20and swinging the outer paddles laterally. The

- height 01' the posts 42 supporting the inner ends sion is applied tothe chain 4. by means of a spring ll extending between the finger 50 anda head portion 16 on the stud 52. This stud may be rotated to adjust thespring tension and then clamped by a set screw.

Uniformity of heating in the shoe sole is effected partly by thesubstantially mid-position of the chain with respect to the sole andhence its mid-position with respect to the electrodes on the supportingpaddles, and partly by causing the chain electrode to assume a positionsubstantially parallel to the bottom of the shoe and to this endinsulating blocks '0, as of hard rubber, are inserted in separated,ventilating relation in many of thelinks of the chain and are heldtherein by cotter pins l2 (Fig. 2). These blocks 80 have enlarged footportions, the lower ends of which are serrated so that there may be noaccumulation of moisture between them and the sole 3 of the shoe. Nearthe heel and toe ends of the chain 40, more of the links are providedwith blocks 80 in order that the separating distances shall be shorterand so that there may be no possibility of contact between the chain andthe shoe when, in smaller sizes of shoes, the chain tends tocurve downaround the ends of the shoe.

When the lever I is tilted upwardly by means of the handle 5 to allowthe. insertion of a pair of shoes for treatment, or the removal of thosewhich have already been treated, any danger of sparking between theelectrodes or of shock to the operator is obviated by a mercury switch90, which is mounted on the lever 54 and has leads 9! adapted to beconnected in circuit with the source of power in such a way that theelectrodes are de-energized whenever the circuit within the switch ll isbroken.

No matter how the electrodes are placed with respect to the shoes, theirwet soles will ultimate- Ly be dried. It has been found, however, thatthere is considerable variation in the evenness of the drying action andin the total time required as the relation and spacing of electrodes andsole is changed. Furthermore, in some positions, it is found that themetal-plates which not infrequently are utilized on the bottoms of lastshave a definite shielding eflectwhich deof the chain electrodes may bealso adjusted, if desirable, and the stop screws 64 turned to a suitableheight so that the blocks ll of the electrode chain will contact lightlywith the bottom of the shoe and position the links of the chainelectrode 40 at an equal distance heightwise from the sole. The actionof the electrodes upon the soles will then be substantially uniform.when one pair of shoes has been treated, the arm 54 will be raised,being held by the latch 66 and the supply of current to the electrodeswill be shut off by means of the mercury switch ll, permitting the shoesto be removed and other shoes to be substituted.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is: s

1. In an apparatus for producing a high frequency field, a support foran article of irregular shape, an electrode for association with anupper portion of the article and arranged to assume the contour thereofupon engagement therewith, another electrode positioned adjacent to saidsupport and between which and said first electrode a field may be set upintersecting said article, and ventilated means for holding said firstelectrode in a predetermined spaced relation to the article.

2. In an apparatus for producing a high frequency held, a support for anarticle of irregular shape, an electrode comprising a flexibleconducting member, a plurality of dielectric spacing devices carried bysaid conducting member to hold it at a predetermined distance from thearticle against which the electrode is positioned, and another electrodespaced from the first and between which and said first electrode a fieldmay be set up including said article.

3. In a shoe-treating apparatus, a shoe support, an electrode forassociation with that portion of a shoe which is uppermost on thesupport, said portion having an irregular contour, said electrode beingarranged for engagement with the shoe to be partially supported therebyand comprising a flexible conducting member, sep- 4. In a shoe-treatingapparatus, a support for a shoe, spaced electrodes between which anelectrostatic field may be set up to include a shoe onthe support, anarm carryingone of said electrodes being movabiy mounted on theapparatus,

said electrode being flexible to permit it to assume the contour of thebottom of a shoe upon contact therewith, and means distributed alongsaid electrode to hold it in a predetermined space relation with respectto the bottom of the shoe.

5. In a shoe-treating apparatus, electrodes between which anelectrostatic field may be set up and adapted to be associated withspaced portions of a shoe, one of said electrodes having the form of achain to enable it to be flexed, thereby to conform to the curvature ofa portion of the shoe.

6. In a shoe-treating apparatus, electrodes between which anelectrostatic field may be set up and adapted to be associated withspaced portions of a shoe, one of said electrodes being flexible toconform to the curvature of a portion of the shoe, and a plurality 'ofdielectric spacing blocks attached to said flexible electrode whereby itmay be caused to assume the curvature of the shoe by contact of theblock with said shoe.

7. In a shoe-treating apparatus, laterally spaced shoe supports holdingbetween them a shoe in an inverted postion, an electrode adjacent to atleast one of said supports, an electrode supported for movement towardand away from a shoe on the supports and adapted to be positionedadjacent to the bottom of the shoe, and means for connecting saidelectrodes to a source of high frequency electric current.

8. In a shoe-treating apparatus, a shoe support, a flexible electrodeadapted to be brought into operative relation to a portion of a shoe postioned on the support, an arm extending over the shoe and supporting oneend of the electrode, said arm being tiltably mounted with respect tothe support, and a stop for limiting movement or ciated with one of saidsupports, a tiltably mounted arm extending lengthwise ofthe shoesubstantially medially thereof, a flexible electrode carried beneathsaid arm in a slack condition whereby it may assume the contour of thebottom of the shoe as the arm is moved toward the shoe, and electricalinsulating means between said electrode and the shoe.

11. In a shoe-treating apparatus, shoe supporting paddles of dielectricmaterial, metallic material adjacent to one side or one of saidpaddlesto serve as an electrode, another electrode spaced from said paddle topermit the interpositioning of a shoe, and means for connecting saidelectrodes to a source of high frequency current.

12. In a shoe-treating apparatus, shoe-supporting paddles of dielectricmaterial, a metal member attached tofthe under side of one of saidDaddies to serve as an electrode, another electrode spaced from saidfirst electrode. and means for connecting said electrodes to a source01' high frequency current. V

13. In a shoe-treating apparatus. spaced shoesupporting paddles, anelectrode associated with a paddle and adapted to be connected to oneside of a source of high frequency current, an insulated electrodeadapted to be positioned adjacent to the sole of a shoe mounted ininverted position on said paddles and to be connected to the other sideof said source, and means permitting lateral adjustment of one of saidpaddles to bring the sole of the shoe into substantially a predeterminedheightwise relation to the paddles.

14. In a shoe-treating apparatus, spaced paddles of dielectric materialfor supporting an inverted shoe, an electrode associated with one ofsaid paddles but out of contact with the shoe. 9. flexible chain servinga another electrode, means for loosely supporting said chain above thesole of the shoe, and dielectric spacing blocks on the chain permittingthe chain to assume the curvature of the sole when this electrode ilowered into contact therewith.

15. In a shoe-treating apparatus, means for supporting a lasted shoe, anelectrode mounted thereon extending along the side of the shoe andoutside the shoe upper, another electrode also outside the shoe andflexible to allow it to assume the contour of the bottom of the shoe,spacing blocks for said electrode, said blocks having serrated faces forcontact with the shoe, and means for connecting said electrodes to asource of high frequency current.

' 16. In a shoe-treating apparatus, means for supporting a lasted shoein inverted position, an electrode mounted thereon outside the shoe, aflexible electrode outside the shoe and positioned above the shoe torest thereon and consequently to assume the contour of the shoe bottomto pass an electrostatic field through a portion of the shoe on thesupport, separated spacing blocks on said latter electrode, said blocksbeing separated by shorter distances near an end oi the shoe, and meansfor connecting said electrodes to a source of high frequency current.

17. In a shoe-treating apparatus, spaced electrodes adapted to beassociated with the sides of a shoe and another electrode spaced fromsaid first electrodes a sufficient distance to permit the interpositionof the shoe, said latter electrode occupying an intermediate position tocooperate with each of the first-mentioned electrodes, and means forconnecting one side of a source of high frequency current to saidintermediate electrode and the other side to the other electrodes.

18, In a shoe-treating apparatus, electrodes positioned adjacent to theopposite longitudinal sides 0! the outer surface of a shoe and adaptedto be connected to one side of a source of highfrequency current, andanother electrode positioned longitudinally and substantially mediallyof the sole of the shoe and adapted to be connected to the other side ofsaid source.

19. That method of treating shoes by means of an electrostatic fieldproduced between electrodes, one of which has a plurality of compo nentparts, which consists in positioning a shoe in a, definite relation toone of the electrodes between which said field is produced, causing thecomponent parts of the other electrode to assume a curvature determinedby the curvature of the bottom of the shoe, supporting that electrode ina predetermined space relation with respect to the bottom of the shoe,and applying a high ire- V quency current to the electrodes.

GEORGE T. HART, JR. ERAB'I'US E. WINKLEY.

